Hanukkah Project Script

Intro: Tonight’s project is a Chanukah program! Since Chanukah is a holiday that is supposed to be festive and fun, we will be playing two games and eating latkes. We will be playing a game called Antiochus and we will be having a dreidel tournament.

Antiochus: Mafia with a Chanukah Twist

Split everyone into two circles. (Let people be with their friends, but make sure the circles are split evenly)

Say following:

Welcome to “Antiochus”, the Chanukah version of Mafia. We thought that Mafia would be a great way to have fun and to learn about the story of Chanukah at the same time. Listen closely to the instructions of the game because we have made some adjustments to add the Chanukah element into the game.

Instructions:

  1. Before the game starts everybody will put their heads down. The game leader (i.e. Jay or Erika) will come around and tap a person on the back once, another person on the back twice, and another person on the back three times.
  2. Antiochus:If you are tapped on the back once, you are Antiochus. Antiochus takes the place of the mafia because he wanted to completely abolish the idea of the belief of one God. Since the Jewish people believe in one God, he wanted to kill the Israelites. The person playing Antiochus will get the opportunity to “kill” one person every round.
  3. Judah: If you are tapped twice, you are Judah Maccabee. Judah takes the place of the witness because he revolted against Antiochus to stand up for the Israelites. The person who is playing Judah gets to witness whoever Antiochus kills each round. His job is to convince everyone who the “Antiochus” is, so he can save as many lives as possible.
  4. Maccabee: If you are tapped three times, you are a Maccabee. Since the Maccabees were trying to save the Jews, the person who gets this role will potentially get to save someone in the circle. Meaning, if you chose the person Antiochus decided to kill, that person would be saved.
  5. Israelite: If you are not tapped at all, you are an Israelite. Your lives are at risk because Antiochus is trying to kill all of you. Every single one of you believe in one God will not change your beliefs. However, you are too scared to go to war with the maccabees. After each round is over, all of the Israelites will have to come up with an agreement of who they think Antiochus is.
  6. Ask if anyone has questions about the characters
  7. Remember, Antiochus, Judah, and the Maccabee will also be in the circle. Since everyone had their heads down before, nobody will know who is who. So, everyone, especially Antiochus, will really have to really think on their feet and try to convince everyone else in the circle that they are not the Antiochus.
  8. At the beginning of each round, everyone will have their heads down. I will say Antiochus and Judah put your heads up. Then, I will say Antiochus point to the Israelite that you would like to kill. Antiochus can point to anyone in the circle, except for Judah, since Judah is witnessing him. Remember, Judah wins the revolt, so the person playing Judah will survive the entire game.
  9. After Antiochus kills someone in the circle, Antiochus and Judah will put their heads down. I will then say Maccabee put your head up. Maccabee, point to the person you would like to save.
  10. Once the Maccabee saves someone, I will tell everyone to put their heads up. Then, I will tell a short story about how someone in the circle got killed. If you are killed, you are out of the game, and must step out of the circle.
  11. Everyone else remaining in the circle has to try to kill Antiochus. So, you will all discuss who you think Antiochus is. If you are Judah, you should really speak up and try to convince the other Israelites who Antiochus is.
  12. You will then come up with a majority vote of who you think Antiochus is. Whoever is voted, will be killed and will be out of the game. If you kill Antiochus, the game is over and all the Israelites win.

Are there any questions?

Remind everyone about the taps

Dreidel Tournament

(Get everyone back together)

One very common tradition on Chanukah is to play dreidel. 63 and Lubel, for the very first time we will be having a dreidel tournament. Basically, everyone will get into groups of four and play a game of dreidel. If you lose the game, you are out of the tournament. If you win, you move on to the next round and will keep playing with a new group of people until you lose. Whoever is the last person standing, will win the ultimate Dreidel Trophy!

How to play Dreidel:

  • Everyone will get a bag of gelt to start off with.
  • Each person will put once piece of gelt into the middle of the pot.
  • You will spin the dreidel to see who goes first
  • Gimel- 1st
  • Hay- 2nd
  • Nun- 3rd
  • Shin- 4th
  • When it is your turn, you will spin the dreidel.
  • Nun- nothing
  • Gimel- everything
  • Hay- half
  • Shin- put a piece of gelt into the pot